Warning - do not read on an empty stomach! I don't think I've ever had the experience of a book making me so hungry! Reena Manji has had 12 ex-boyfriends, is stuck in a finance career she hates, and is constantly fighting off her meddling family members attempts at micromanaging her love life and career. That is until Nadim, her fathers latest arranged love interest, shows up next door.

After Reena is unexpectedly let go from her job, her friends convince her to enter a cooking contest for FoodTV. The only catch is that the contest is only open to couples. Nadim happily agrees to be a fake couple with Reena and enter the contest. But what Reena didn't expect was to actually fall in love.

Accidentally Engaged had me hooked from the very beginning. It was the perfect, light hearted romance to read after a month of reading relatively heavy content books. Reena is such a fun, lovable character who I am still thinking about even after finishing the book.

The story is filled with a lot of secrets, gossip and of course, misunderstandings. I found myself getting frustrated with both Reena and Nadim about secrets that seemed silly to be keeping from one another. By the end of the book, as all of the secrets came to light, it seemed like a lot of information/conclusions were being thrown at us at once.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had lovable characters, it was a quick read, made me laugh, and inspired me to start my own sourdough started. I will definitely read the next rom-com coming from Farah Heron!

4 stars.

Now I LOVE reading books that are romance with a heavy interest in family and hobbies. So Accidentally Engaged really ticked all the boxes for me. As an Indian person myself I KNOW how crucial food is not only as fuel but as a sense of connection as well. I also know all too well about how overbearing family can be, especially when they're all you have to rely on. Being an immigrant with a huge family is hard. On on hand you crave the closeness and on the other you see the toxicity that brings.

I loved how this book didn't veer away from any of that. Between Reena's and Saira's struggles with their parents love and feeling how conditional it was when stacked up against their golden child - aka always the older brother, I saw a mirror into my own family. There are secrets we keep just so the family can function. But just as in the book, "We must learn to let each other into our lives". A stoic family may look good on paper and pictures but neither of those can support you.

I haven't even gotten into the romance of the book yet. 10/10 stars. I loved everyone of their moments, from the charismatic interactions on the camera to their lice moments to his foot fetish. Sometimes romance books can make the male lead feel less like a person and more a walking checklist of desirable traits, but this author really humanized Nadim.

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The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet neighbours to lovers romance filled with complicated family drama and a lot of cooking and baking bread!

This book contains an amazing mixture of figuring out what you want in your life, moving on from your past mistakes, making amends with others and falling in love with the right person who seems to be the wrong one. Reena and Nadim are forced together through various circumstance and as they slowly get to know more about the other, they can not help but fall in love.

The book is full of keeping secrets from your family and gossiping about things that are none of your business, in true Indian aunties fashion, this book is relatable and funny but also makes you empathise with the characters and connect with them.

Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron was so fun and full of heart! There are so many great things to love about this book.

Reena and Nadim are both strong yet flawed characters, trying to overcome personal mistakes, bad decisions, and find their own way. The fact that they end up living across the hall from each other (thanks to her dad) makes for a fun added bonus. I really enjoyed the diverse representation in this book, the meddlesome family, and the growth in different relationships. Possibly the most delicious aspect of this slow-burn romance is the mouth-watering food descriptions which left me craving all of her recipes, snacks, and bread!

The only thing that brought it down for me is the overabundance of drama and family secrets. I realize that might be an added bonus for some people, but it felt like too many secret puzzle pieces at times for me. The resolution of the secrets was very witty, however, so kudos there.

I love reading books from diverse voices, especially witty rom-coms, and this one did NOT disappoint. I'll look forward to what Heron writes next! Be sure to read the author’s note as well as the bonus recipes at the end of the book!

Thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Reading Accidentally Engaged was a rollercoaster ride for me. Farah Heron had me screaming into the pillow because of how cute Nadim and Reena were, and later also somehow had me confused and feeling lukewarm about their love story. I'm no writer, but I feel like this book suffers from a case of a lot of telling and not enough showing. The dialogue at times feels dense and almost boring, and other times is engaging and moved me to excitement. Heron's book does not feel like it was written for the white gaze, which I appreciate. At the same time, I personally have a problem with the glorification of arranged marriages in books by Indian authors. Additionally, the third act conflict and eventual resolution felt very wordy to me, and I was skimming through it, eager to move on.

All of that being said, the book was overall an enjoyable read, its focus on food (and the recipes in the end!!) was probably my favorite part and the theme of finding home in people rather than places really hit the sweet spot. I definitely will pick up the next book by this author, and I'm very grateful to Estelle from Forever for the e-galley in exchange for my honest review!

There's so much to love about Farah Heron's Accidentally Engaged. Reena is such a fun and unique heroine, Nadim is both lovable and mysterious, and the entire Manji family is a damn trip. Plus the food descriptions in this book not only made my mouth water but also made me decide that bread-baking will be the delayed quarantine hobby I take up next.

I think where things got a little hinky is that there's just too much going on in this novel. Reena and Nadim's parents setting them up! Reena's relationship with her sister Saira! Reena's past failed relationships! The cooking show subplot! The foot shenanigans! The secrets that Reena's family is keeping from her! The secrets that Nadim is also keeping from her! The list goes on and on.

The book is just shy of soap opera-levels of drama at the end, but the problem is that I don't really know if that's exactly what Heron was going for. I would've loved if there'd been fewer subplots with a little more depth added to the remaining ones, especially because there were some really important topics that could've used more exploration, like mental illness and treatment.

I think this one's around 3.5-4ish stars?

This book was anything but half-baked. Farah Heron expertly weaves together culture and romance while maintaining a well-proved plot. She also discusses mental health, familial pressure, and what it means to make a home for yourself. Overall a beautiful book that I couldn't put down. Plus she includes recipes for some of the delicious food mentioned in the book which is a win in my book!

I can't help the bread references, don't be sour about it.

Accidentally Engaged is such a delightful story of finding love, home, and acceptance with your family. Reena works in finance but has a love of baking bread. When she meets her new neighbor, Nadim, she learns right away he’s there as an arranged partner from her meddling Indian parents. Unable to ignore the spark between them, Reena and Nadmin fake an engagement to enter a cooking contest!

I loved the family dynamics in this book. Seeing Reena’s relationship with her sister and parents evolve was in my opinion the primary love story. Nadim and Reena have great chemistry and witty banter that was fun to read. The only thing I would’ve wanted was for this story to be dual POV so we got to see things from Nadim’s perspective. I also loved reading about their Indian culture and all the scenes involving food!

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

I wasn't sure I would like this book after being introduced to the narrator, Reena. However, I quickly found how funny she is and how she self-sabotaged love because of her past. She was committed to NOT committing to an arranged marriage or falling in love with a man picked by her parents. As the story unfolds, you see that Reena's family (and her new beau) is full of secrets that they believe they can hide well. This love story was not traditional and took us on an unexpected journey. Some of the portions of the story was a little slow, but overall, I think this was a wonderful book.

I was wondering what the deal was with the bread!

I saw this book all over my feed (with a piece of bread coincidentally in every picture), I was really excited to see what the deal was! Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for bestowing this book upon me as an earc!

I was laughing from the very first chapter. Nadim was just a delight of a character, he is literally the cutest guy I've witnessed in a rom com. The story of this book was always such fun. I've said this before with other culturally diverse books, but I love rom coms that delve into different cultures so that you catch a glimpse of what that culture is like, even if you're just reading about it. It opens your eyes to a new world that you don't necessarily know about or had the opportunity to experience so I always enjoy them.

Being a Canadian, I can't tell you how fun it was to know exactly where certain places were, for example, I know EXACTLY where Markham, Ontario is! It's just a fun tidbit for me!

Overall, I had such a good time getting to know Reena and Nadim and to go along their cooking journey. (I've always wanted to try parathas!! I'm definitely trying some after reading this!)

I huge thank you to @ReadForeverPub and @NetGalley for the free advanced reader copy of this novel! I started this book the day after Christmas, and found myself flying through it! I never really joined in on the bread-making part of quarantine, but this book made me wish that I had. Who knows, maybe I will just start baking up a storm now! The novel hits shelves on March 2nd, 2021; Be sure to grab it then!
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Obviously, the version I read has not completed its editing stage, but apart from a few grammatical things that I’m sure have been cleared up, it read to me as ready to go. Reena is a well-crafted lead character that pulls you in and makes you want to love cooking as much as she does. I really felt like I had entered the Manji household and could hear the craziness around me as though I was living in it. Heron sets up a few twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes and watching all of the characters navigate their own problems while creating issues for others was absolutely engaging.

I loved this sweet and funny story of two people thrown together by proximity and family meddling. It was a mostly light-hearted delight to read, with effortless humor and charm.

Reena's overbearing family tries to insert themselves into every aspect of her life, but may have gone too far when they move her father's employee in across the hall from her in hopes she'll fall in love with him and marry. Reena knows she cannot marry him and give her family that satisfaction, even if Nadim is handsome, good natured, and willing to pretend to be engaged to her so she can enter a cooking competition. They start with an easy friendship, and though she knows Nadim is keeping secrets, eventually their relationship turns more serious.

Nadim was just so swoony and charming, I loved his love of Reena's bread and his other ... proclivities. I loved Reena's family and friends, they were all funny and brought a lot to the story. I love the cooking competition subplot, and I wish I could actually see the videos they made. I spent a good chunk of the book googling the different bread types and foods they discussed. I just loved it all!

the premise and the characters of this book attracted me a great deal at first, but the plot itself, its pacing, and the development of the aforementioned characters were not enough for me to finish this book. i DNF'd at the 65% mark due to dwindling interest in both the plot and characters. i did however really, really enjoy the representation of indians in tanzania within the story as well as the character of nadim.

Loved this one! The food made me so hungry and want to cook. Definitely don't read this one without some snakcs to much on. The banter between the two characters was so fun and I really enjoyed the cultural aspects included in the narrative. One of the best rom coms Ive read in a while.

Accidentally Engaged is so cute! The first half of this book plays to the tune of a diverse rom-com, and Reena with her unique point of view and not-so-typical behavior really draws you in and allows you to identify with her. Then, all of a sudden, sexy Nadim with his craft beer and rakish good looks turns the world on its axis.

The second half of this book went a little deeper, and I was here for it. The author swiftly and delicately discusses topics like self expression, mental illness, eating disorders, and familial obligation, and she does it spectacularly. I loved everything about this book, even the recipes at the back!

I came to this book for the promise of an awkward but beautiful romance. I stayed for the awkward family dynamics, the bread (c’mon), the sourdough puppies, and the recipes at the end! Do yourselves a favor and pre-order this book. I hope you’ll love it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reena belongs to an overbearing Muslim family. They are in her business and always trying to set her up with a good boy. She is dead set on not marrying anyone that her parents have a hand in. Imagine her surprise when her new neighbor, who she cleverly deems “brown Captain America,” asks her out, but turns out to be her husband in an arranged marriage. Nadim is charming, funny and a huge flirt that seems to really be into Reena. Too bad she’s not going to marry him (and tells him this every chance she gets). The two decide to become friends, but not tell their families. After a drunken night has them entering a FoodTV contest, the pair has to pretend to be engaged for the cameras in order to keep their spot in the competition. But as things unfold, there just might be more to their relationship (and each other) that meets the eye.

Accidentally Engaged is cute, funny and I loved it! I laughed out loud so many times, I lost track. I loved Reena’s quirky personality, especially how she names all her bread starters. But I also loved the twists and turns. There were so many layers of mystery and deception that the book kept me guessing. It was so refreshing to see both characters embrace their culture and share their food with others. While both families were overbearing and at times, over the top, I felt like the relationships were authentic and so real.

This is definitely a must read!

I just wanted bread and Indian food the entire time I was reading this book. It was funny and sweet. Parts of it felt a little contrived but it was fun. It was all fade to black, so no sex.

Last year, I absolutely fell in love with Indian culture through books and this one made me fall ever deeper. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/Forever for this free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

When Reena Manji, 31, is baking bread, she’s in Complete control hates her career, loves baking bread and cooking, and is tired of her parents constantly trying to set her up and marry her off with what they consider to be good Muslim men. When Nadim, her sexy new Tanzanian neighbor with a heart stopping British accent moves across the hall from her, she starts to fall for his charm until she learns that not only is he is her father’s newest employee, but her parents have also arranged for the two of them to get married.

Nadim and Reena become really good friends and from the beginning, she let him know that she will never marry him.

This book was REALLY good and it made me laugh out loud a lot. It was a 5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. Rom coms are quickly becoming my favorite book genre. It also made me very hungry between Reena’s bread baking and the cooking she and Nadim did during a FoodTV cooking contest. I’ve never had Indian food and unfortunately I can’t seem to find an Indian restaurant on Guam, but I’m really excited to try it one day! I also loved the relationship between Reena and her sister, Saira and I loved Saira’s Desi wedding planning. My only complaint is the typos throughout the book but hopefully they will all be caught before publication.

Accidentally Engaged by @farahheronauthor will be released on March 2, 2021 and I’ve already preordered my physical copy!

Accidentally Engaged is a delightful rom-com, with so much delectable descriptions of food and bread that I found myself needing to snack while reading (and order Indian takeout). I enjoyed following the relationship at the center of the book, and following how the main characters navigated the pressures of family and career against their feelings for each other. I immediately went and checked out Heron's first book.

I could not get enough of this book. The character development was done so well. The love that blossoms between our two protagonist will tug at all your heartstrings. I laughed so much because Reena was hilarious. The banter between Reena and Nadim is sooooo good. I could have honestly read 100 more pages cause I was not ready to let them go. The cultural and family ties embedded throughout the stories are complicated but shape the story in a beautiful way. The theme throughout the book was the connection we have to our roots through food and I so resonated with that. That’s how Peruvian food feels to me and Nadim constantly saying he felt at home when tasting Reena’s cooking made this story that much more special for me.